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Travel options and advice

Travel options and advice

During the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, all of the event cities will experience increased demand on the transport networks, creating challenges for anyone travelling in affected areas. There will also be a range of cultural activities and festival zones that will further increase demand.

A significant amount of planning has gone into transport for GC2018 and many services such as the tram and bus network have been improved. Around 90% of people on the Gold Coast drive for work and leisure activities and during a major event of this scale, this is just not sustainable. We need the travelling public to do their bit and where possible, temporarily change their travel behaviour.

We understand some people rely on driving or taking the bus for work or other reasons, but could potentially still make changes to non-essential travel they might do. Every bit counts.

During GC2018, trips are likely to take longer, especially by car, on busy routes during peak times. We will all need to plan ahead, stay up-to-date, and be prepared to change our usual travel habits.

Top tips for planning ahead

Make changes on the busiest days

While we encourage you to make as many changes to your normal travel routine as possible, if you can’t make a change every day, try focusing on making changes on the busiest days of the Games. The busiest week is expected to be the second week - Monday 9 April to Sunday 15 April. The busiest days are expected to be Tuesday 10 April and Saturday 14 April.

Take advantage of school holidays by walking or cycling

Remember the Games are on during the school holidays so you could make a pact as a family to only cycle to activities or use public transport if heading to theme parks or other holiday activities.

Follow us on social media

Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep update with the latest travel and transport information and advice in the lead up and during the Games.

Attend free info sessions

Attend a free Get Set for the Games Community Information Session to learn about the temporary changes to the transport network in your local area.

Re-mode your travel for the Games

Remode your travel and consider walking or cycling for shorter trips to your destination instead. Interested in cycling? We're providing free cycling workshops to help you gain confidence in riding on the road and taking care of your bike.

Re-time your travel outside peak times

Re-time your travel to outside of peak times to avoid the crowds and congestion or think about rescheduling some of your appointments, such as the hairdresser, prior to or following the Games.

Re-route your travel to avoid congestion

Re-route your travel to avoid potential congestion and changed traffic access - you can find out the hotspots and busiest times to avoid in each local precinct or by mode of travel.

Reduce non-essential travel

Reduce non-essential travel during the Games period where possible. If you must travel by car, consider carpooling with a friend, family member or work colleague.

Try out new plans in advance

Try out any new travel plans in advance – get familiar with a new route, cycle to work and see how long it takes - could you do it once or twice during the Games? Trial taking the bus before the Games begins, start working earlier or later a couple of times before the Games. All of this preparation will help to keep you moving during the Games.

Keep updated

Make sure you keep checking this website for further updates and information as more information will be added as we get closer to the Games.

Get more handy tips

Start planning

No two days are the same during GC2018 and small changes to current travel behaviour will make a big difference.

To keep you moving during the Games, plan ahead and consider different travel options to your normal routine - can you:

Options to Reduce your travel

Non-essential appointments

Reduce unnecessary travel during the Games period, rethink your schedule and change non-essential appointments to outside the Games or staying local.

Reduce trips to and within venue precincts

Sporting events are happening across 13 locations on the Gold Coast, two in Brisbane and one each in Townsville and Cairns. Know where they are and try to avoid these areas if you’re not heading to an event.

Reduce trips to centres impacted by Games

Reduce the need to make trips to centres impacted by road events such as Southport and along the Gold Coast Highway during the Marathon and Triathlon and Currumbin when the Cycling - Road Races and Athletics - Race walks are taking place

Use the M1 less where possible

Reduce the number of trips you do that use the Pacific Motorway (M1), or re-route them to use less busy local roads. Try to avoid using the M1 for short journeys and if you do use it be aware of the changed speed limits and other measures being introduced for the Games.

Reduce your car use

Reduce your car use by ordering groceries online, shopping little and often at your local supermarket (so you can walk or cycle there and back). Meet friends and family locally or travel by public transport to meet them avoiding the busiest times. Head to a beach closest to you and walk or cycle there.

Options to Re-mode

Re-mode by walking or cycling

Re-mode travel by cycling or walking for shorter trips particularly those under 45 mins – it might be quicker than the way you normally travel.

Re-mode by using public transport

Re-mode by using public transport where feasible to access areas impacted by the Games.

Re-mode by carpooling

Re-mode by grabbing a lift with friends, family or colleagues and neighbours and carpool during the Games.

Re-mode during busy times

Re-mode for times when access to commuter park ‘n’ ride space is limited, could you take the bus or walk and cycle?

Options to Re-time

Travel outside of peak times

Re-time travel to outside peak times to avoid delays to your journey.

Avoid Games peak periods

Re-time trips to event/venue locations to avoid Games peak periods.

Re-time to avoid road events

Re-time your trips on roads affected by road events. There will be road closures put in place days when road events are on so retime or even avoid the area if you aren’t heading down to watch the event.

Re-time to avoid busy times on public transport

Re-time trips on public transport to avoid busy times. Public transport will be busy with spectators but is a great option, if you travel outside of the busiest times.

Options to Re-route

Re-route to avoid public transport hotspots

Some stations or stops will be busier than others depending on the events on that day. Make sure you keep that in mind when choosing where to catch public transport from.

Re-route to avoid road and venue hotspots

There will be a number of road closures and traffic management changes to support the safe and smooth running of events. Please make sure you know where these will be so you can plan around them.

Avoiding busiest roads

Avoid using M1 for short journeys

Try to avoid using the M1 for short journeys and if you do use it be aware of the changed speed limits and other measures being introduced for the Games.

Flexible work arrangements

If you own a business and have employees who you feel need to drive for work and other alternatives aren’t viable then make sure you attend a business workshop for your industry or workplace location and talk to an advisor to get help developing a travel action plan.

Think about other changes you can make

Think about other travel you could change besides work trips, do you need to drive for some of the leisure activities you do?

Reconsider your schedule

Could you reconsider your schedule and think about ordering shopping online and getting the delivery off peak, shopping little and often at your local supermarket, meeting friends and relatives locally, instead of driving to the gym, hairdresser or the cinema - could you walk or cycle? Reschedule non-emergency appointments at the doctors to outside the games period or walk and cycle there instead.

Allow plenty of extra travel time

Even if you can’t do any of the above, please make sure you leave plenty of extra time for your journey so you get to your destination when you need to as it will be much busier on our roads and you will experience delays if you don’t plan ahead.